Josephite vs. Everardine Debate; 1767

[AnonymousAlexa 3890]

Josephite vs. Everardine Debate

12^th of The Grand Harvest; 1767

 

Key:

Yellow: Josephite

Blue: Everardine

Black: Other

 

Angelika Bykov: “So, please do allow me to begin, Mr. D'Aryn. May I ask if the HRA serves under the Kingdom of Haense or the Empire of Oren?”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “I would say that the Royal Army is the King's army.”

Angelika Bykov: “So you admit that the Haense Royal Army serves directly under the King of Haense?”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “Theirs is the one non-integrated military of the Empire.”

Angelika Bykov: “Precisely, Mr. D'Aryn. This is an exact excerpt from the Authorization Act: Private Military Organizations are defined as meeting all if the following criteria. One of these criteria include: Does not operate under the sigil of the empire nor emperor. Thus, making the HRA a private military organization, da?”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “Madame Bykov, the authorisation bill clearly means the regulation of small and unauthorised militias, not the Royal Army of the King.” 

Renée Antoinette: “If I may interject, is there some sort of legal misunderstanding of what type of entity the Haeseni king's army truly is?”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “I would say too that the Royal Army does operate under the sigil of the Emperor.”

Angelika Bykov: “But the HRA fits all of the criteria of being a private military force. Why should our army require approval from the Empire? This does not sound like decentralization to me.”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “Mademoiselle, you touch upon a most important point. The King's army is the personal army of the King of Haense, who in turn is the personal vassal of the Emperor.”

Angelika Bykov: “Perhaps, though the HRA does not bear the Empire's sigil.”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “The Royal Army of Haense already works under the sigil, therefore, of the Emperor; therefore I would argue that it is an established and authorised army - as opposed to an unregulated militia.”

Renée Antoinette: “So, in theory, that would also make the HRA the army of His Imperial Majesty as well, no? Seeing as it is within a liege lord's rights to call for banners.”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “You are correct, not the Empire specifically. This is a spicy vintage, I hear.” 

Renée Antoinette: “Quite.” 

Amadeus d'Aryn: “The Royal Army doesn't have clearly defined status, since it is the personal army of the King, who in turn is the personal vassal of the Emperor. Just as the Pale operates on the Emperors personal estate - though the two are not the same. Those things that are personal and loved by His Imperial Majesty do not, and rightly so, have a place in law. Since the Emperor is the sovereign and withholds the supreme authority of the Imperial State.”

Angelika Bykov: “Though it is not personal…the relationship between the Haense Royal Army and the Emperor is indirect.”

Renée Antoinette: “Do you imply that the relationship between Haense and Oren is indirect, madame?”

Angelika Bykov: “Niet, not in the slightest. Though the relationship between the HRA and Oren is indirect indeed.”

Renée Antoinette: “Well, if the relationship between liege and vassal is not indirect, and is instead direct - then the relationship between a liege and his vassal's army must surely be direct. If His Imperial Majesty were to visit Haense, I am sure that the good men of HRA will listen to him, no?” 

Angelika Bykov: “Of course they would, for he is their Emperor, though the relation is still indirect. In any event, I do not wish to debate endlessly on the technicality of the bill.”

Renée Antoinette: “If a soldier heeds a direct order from a man, then the relationship is surely direct. However, your request for a change of topic is understandable. Please do.” 

Angelika Bykov: “Very well then. Onto my next question, Mr. D'Aryn. Why do you believe that a national calender is of utmost importance at the moment?”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “I should say that the authorisation bill as it stands is in no way a completed bill, we pulled it from the House in order to alter its words.”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “Sir?”

Butler Edwin Jarvis: “Oh, sorry. Flew in the wrong balcony.”

Renée Antoinette: “It happens to the best of us….”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “Do you… Do you wish for me to open the door?”

Butler Edwin: “Hm…Fock.”

Renée Antoinette: “Oh my…Anyways….”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “Please, Madame Bykov, repeat your question.”

Angelika Bykov: “Da, of course. I asked why exactly you think a national calender is of utmost importance?”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “I do not obviously think it is the most important policy issue I could think of - indeed our manifesto points out several policy platforms that we are yet to introduce, of which I would advise you to read. However in the context of the question the gentleman asked me, yes, I do believe it to be imperative to rekindling an imperial culture. We have between us all more that unites us than petty squabbles in politics. To be frank with you, we are at a testing point in our history. All this wealth and prosperity that you see now can be taken away so very easily.” 

Angelika Bykov: “A fair response. But how is a national calender decentralization, as the Everardines often argue for? Why should, Haense, for example, not be able to use their own calender with their own holidays?”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “Of course, they should. There is nothing conflicting about a national and provincial calendar. Broadly speaking, I wanted to find specific days where we could hold military parades remembering those who lost their lives defending the empire. I want to clarify something to you, and I trust that you will keep this between us, Mademoiselle Bykov. Mr. Amador had the wrong idea when he declared that we are the party of decentralisation. We are not that. We are the party that favours the moderate, compromising, unifying status quo of our Empire - as it has always been.”

Renée Antoinette: “If I may add, one calendar simply makes things easier for everyone; one empire, one calendar, and one date. Haeseni, Kaedrini and Curonian holidays can of course be added to an  imperial calendar, seeing as they are a part of the imperial culture.”

Angelika Bykov: “Oh? So you are uncomfortable with our meeting being disclosed? Please elaborate, Mr. D'Aryn.”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “These bonds that you see between Emperor and vassal are imperative and sacred, they are woven into our national tapestry. They are the fabric of our society. No, no, madame Bykov. I merely say...that I do not wish for you to pass this on.”

Angelika Bykov: “And please tell me, why is that?”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “Indeed, Renee.”

Angelika Bykov: “Did you just admit that Haense and other vassals of the Empire follow Imperial culture? And did you just affirm that, Mr. D'Aryn?”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “You are most correct. For the reasons I mentioned, Madame Bykov. I simply did not wish for Mr. Amador to hear that I was critiquing his speech.”

Angelika Bykov: “Mr. D'Aryn, there is nothing wrong with criticism. In fact, I embrace criticism. It allows for me to improve.”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “Now, now, Madame Bykov. You would do well as a journalist.”

Renée Antoinette: “Haense and all of the vassals of the Orenian empire are most certainly imperial culture. Imperial culture is best defined as a combined culture of all of those present in an.”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “If you ever find that the Josephites have stayed too far from your ideas, then you are welcome in being hired for my own paper.” 

Angelika Bykov: “A journalist? Da, I suppose so, though I prefer politics. While we are all one Empire, our cultures are very different.”

Renée Antoinette: “Admittedly, yes. All of the cultures about the empire are very different from the other, although, when one is in Helena, the capital of our great empire, they are in a  melting pot: The meeting of all of our glorious cultures, and this aforementioned melting pot that is the Crownlands is where imperial culture derives from.”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “There was once a time, perhaps only some years back, that Haense proclaimed themselves as the most leal imperial citizens.”

Renée Antoinette: “Additionally, it is important to remember that an empire is no empire without any vassals - therefore, the general culture of an empire is nonexistent if it is not a combination of the cultures that hold it together.”

Angelika Bykov: “Thank you for the offer, Mr. D'Aryn, though I am a proud Josephite and I always will be. Highlander culture does not derive from Heartlander culture. Haense has not always been a vassal of the Empire. We have formed our own customs.”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “Haense has been a vassal of the Empire for longer than it has not.”

Renée Antoinette: “I do not speak of Heartlandic culture, I speak of the culture of the Crownlands: The imperial culture. We have many Highlandic denizens here in Helena, and they follow imperial culture by  contributing to it.”

Angelika Bykov: “Perhaps, though Haeseni culture is very different from that of the Orenians. All in all, my point is that the Everardines supposedly argue for decentralization and the ideas you enforce represent anything such. If this is not the case, then the party and its policies seem quite…unorganized.”

Renée Antoinette: “A wish for decentralization does not mean one does not want harmony throughout the empire. Naturally, a good Orenian, irregardless of the province he or she hails from wishes to feel connected to the rest of the empire as much as possible, even if that  means a shared calendar, holidays, et cetera.”

Renée Antoinette: “I mean, we all share a language. Surely a calendar will not hurt.”

Angelika Bykov: “Different cultures should not lead to conflict. And share a language? Niet. I don't believe New Marian is used in the Crownlands.”

Renée Antoinette: “I speak of Common, everyone speaks it.” 

Angelika Bykov: “Da, exactly. Everyone speaks it. Though our official language is New Marian.”

Renée Antoinette: “Regardless, it is still a shared language that everyone speaks throughout Oren. I adore Common for being the strongest pillar of imperial culture.”

Angelika Bykov: “Well, common is, for the most part, spoken throughout Arcas, though that is beside the point. Haeseni and Imperial cultures differ in many ways. And the idea of a national calender discourages the different in culture.”

Amadeus d'Aryn: “At this point I believe the conversation is more semantics than actual substance. Did you have any other questions Madame?”

Angelika Bykov: “Da, I agree, Mr. D'Aryn. Niet, that is all, I believe. I thank you both for your time. And I do hope you both realize this debate has been one of the friendly kind. At least, that was the intention.”

Renée Antoinette: “Us Everardines are of the friendly kind.” 

Amadeus d'Aryn: “Of course, and I welcome debate and disagreement. It is healthy for the system.”

Angelika Bykov: “And so are us Josephites. And da, it is indeed healthy. I thank you both again. Dravi.” 

 

Spoiler

Shout out to Carinthir_ and Marquisee2 for some super fun rp!

 

[argonian 14254]

“I’ll be the first to admit, I honestly would not have read one word if it wasn’t for the convenient colour-coding. I know Amadeus’ speeches off by heart.” Conrad confesses to his colleagues, gesturing to the transcript.